Famous Agricultural Universities in India where tourists visit. The universities are: 1. Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology 2. Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) 3. Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences 4. Anand Agricultural University (AAU) 5. Assam Agricultural University 6. Bidhan Chandra Krishivish Wavidyalaya and a few more.
Famous Agricultural Universities in India
- Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
- Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU)
- Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences
- Anand Agricultural University (AAU)
- Assam Agricultural University
- Bidhan Chandra Krishivish Wavidyalaya
- Birsaagricultural University
- Central Agricultural University
- Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology
- Chaudharycharan Singh Haryana Agricultural University
- Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth
- Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth
- Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya
Agricultural University # 1. Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
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Uttaranchal is one of the most beautiful and enchanting regions of northern India. Uttaranchal was named the 27th state of the Republic of India on November 9, 2000. Dehra Dun is the capital of the state, famous for some of the country’s prestigious institutions like the Forest Research Institute and Himalayas Institute of Medical Sciences.
Institutes like the Lai Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration located at Mussoorie and Indian Institute of Technology (NT) – Roorkee are famous worldwide for their quality education and research.
The schools run by the state government are affiliated to the state board while the other schools are affiliated either with the CBSE or the ICSE board. Hindi is the medium of instruction in the schools. However, the CBSE and ICSE affiliated schools use English as their medium of study. The “free and compulsory education policy” has been introduced in the state to provide universalisation of elementary education in the country.
According to the 2001 census, Uttaranchal’s literacy rate was 72.28% which showed a sharp increase of 14.53% as compared to the literacy rate according to the 1991 census. The state has 6 state universities, 2 deemed universities, one institute of national importance (IIT), 3 medical colleges and several engineering and management colleges.
Agricultural University #
2. Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU)
Establishment: 1963 as Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University by an Act No.24 of 1963; Renamed as Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University by an amendment Act.No.32 of 1996
The Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) (formerly Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU)) is a university in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
The University was established on June 12, 1964, with Shri O.Pulla Reddy, I.C.S (Retired) as the first Vice- Chancellor of the University. It was formally inaugurated on March 20,1965, by Shri Lai Bahadur Shastri, the then Prime Minister of India. Another significant milestone was the inauguration of the building programme of the University by Smt Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India on June 23,1966.
The University was renamed as Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University on November 7, 1996 in honour and memory of parliamentarian Acharya N. G. Ranga, who rendered remarkable selfless service for the cause of farmers and is regarded as an outstanding educationist, kisan leader and freedom fighter. A life size bronze statue of Acharya N.G. Ranga was unveiled by His Excellency Dr. C. Ranagarajan, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, on 7 November 1998 at the main campus of the University. Institutional Autonomy.
This University is considered as the largest in India with an infrastructure of 9 Colleges, 58 research stations distributed in 7 Agro-climatic zones of the State, 8 Agricultural Polytechnics, 1 Horticultural Polytechnic, 1 Multipurpose
Polytechnic, 22 District Agricultural Advisory and Transfer of Technology Centres, 12 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Farmer Science Centre), one Agricultural Technology and Information Centre and Electronic Media Wing apart from one Extension Education Institute and Agricultural Information and Communication Centre.
Agricultural University #
3. Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences:
The Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, formerly Allahabad Agricultural Institute- Deemed University, is a university in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. This is one of the oldest agricultural institutes in South Asia.
It is Through Gazette notification No.F.9-26/94-U.3 dated March 15, 2000, Gov. of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Secondary and Higher Education/ Aided under Dept. of Agriculture, Gov. of UP recognized Deemed University.
It was established in 1910 under the leadership of Dr. Sam Higginbottom, as an ecumenical institution of the Christian churches and church organizations in India.
The first phase of the Institute was its establishment, development of appropriate training courses and training programs. Informal classes began in the fall of 1912 and it was during this period from 1912 to 1919 that the Institute faced a time of uncertainty. Diploma in Farm Machinery and Dairying were started in 1923, then a Degree in Agriculture in 1932, followed by a Degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1943.
On 15 March 2000 India’s central government declared the Allahabad Agricultural Institute a deemed university. The University Grants Commission (UGC) identifies Allahabad as a deemed university.
The Agricultural Institute was established under the leadership of Dr. Sam Higginbottom, in 1910, as an ecumenical Institution of the Christian Churches and Church organizations in India. Dr. Sam Higginbottom came to India in 1903 and joined the North India Mission of the Presbyterian Church. From 1903 to 1909. He taught Economics and Science in the Allahabad Christian College, presently known as Ewing Christian College and at the same time studied the local dialect.
During this period he became a familiar figure in the surrounding villages, he also saw and observed the living conditions of the villagers and was deeply concerned about the ancient system of agriculture which contributed to low productivity and thus led to extreme poverty amongst them. He was also genuinely disturbed by the vast gulf between the urban Christian and the rural masses.
For several months he contemplated upon the Christian neglect of the villages and ultimately by the end of 1909 he decided to bridge this gulf by establishing an agricultural school, which he envisioned would educate the village boys, introduce improved agricultural methods and co-operate with the local fanners in solving their practical agriculture related problems.
He also took over the responsibility of supervising a Home for lepers. This Home was operated by the Allahabad Charitable Association, but since the Home did not have adequate facilities for providing food, clothing and shelter, the lepers often left and wandered into the city as beggars. Here they were outright shunned and hideously disregarded by one and all.
Dr. Higginbottom himself found them repulsive as most of them had lost their fingers and toes, their wounds were wrapped in dung coloured rags. Dr. Sam Higginbottom was so disturbed by the sight that within a few weeks he asked to be relieved of this responsibility, but Mr. Arthur Henry Ewing, the Principal of Allahabad Christian College, encouraged him to continue this work.
He then realized that his attitude was inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible, which taught to cleanse lepers, the young missionary acknowledged that they were indeed his brothers in Christ.
This made him look for possibilities of increasing the financial assistance for a proper home for lepers and thus came into being, the present Leprosy Hospital in Naini, situated across the Jamuna river about 1.5 kilometers South East of the city. The home consisted of a small hospital and Church and a Home for the untainted children of the lepers.
This home was the project of Ethelind Higginbottom wife of Dr. Sam Higginbottom, since she felt that children who were separated within the first year of their birth from their parents would not contact this disease. This home was adjacent to the Naini Jail where the superintendent Col. E. Hudson, introduced improved agricultural techniques on the jail farm. Dr. Higginbottom seized upon Hudson’s methods of farming and taught these methods to the lepers who were able to farm.
The evolution of an agricultural school was much more complex. Dr. Sam Higginbottom wished to establish a school that would train young men to work in villages as well as do research in practical agricultural problems of the villagers. His experiences as a teacher, his studies about India and his association with Col. Hudson helped him to develop this school. During his teaching of Economics, he observed that the course was rather unrelated to the needs of the Indian students.
The books were based on the knowledge of western, urbanized society, which here was meaningless for the Indian students. The lack of comprehension and the impracticality of the course deeply disturbed Dr. Higginbottom. He then decided to acquaint his students to the Indian economy.
He gave his students a practical demonstration by taking them to take a view of the lifestyle of the villagers, personally. He showed the students Col. Hudson’s farm at the, Naini Jail, so they would have a firsthand information regarding the possibilities of improved agricultural methods and teaching of practical village industries such as wood carving, pottery, rug making, canning, etc.
Dr. Higginbottom, thus planned and started a school which was located in the trans-Jamuna region on the southern bank of the river, directly across the Allahabad Christian College Campus.
This region was connected to the city of Allahabad by a two tiered wooden bridge which spanned across the Jamuna and had a double rail line on the top and a dirt road underneath, about 1/2 a kilometer in the south west direction from this bridge the Agricultural Institute was established in the year 1910.
About 120 Kilometers down this road was the Estate of Rewa This region was one of the poorest regions of this area, the soil was of a very poor quality (Usar), it was barren and had not been cultivated for years, Dr. Higginbottom took advantage of this opportunity and along with his associates reclaimed the area and demonstrated the potential value of Usar and felt that the riots would be inspired to adopt the practices of the Agricultural School.
He had to his advantage the fact that this school was situated on the confluence of the Ganga – Jamuna, (known as “Sangam”), where every year in the months of January and February, thousands of pilgrims passed this way and thus they would be able to observe and practically see the improved methods of agriculture which were implemented on the farm and in return would carry these ideas with them to the various parts of country from where they had come.
The first phase of the Institute was its establishment, development of appropriate training courses and training programmes. Informal classes began in the fall of 1912 and it was during this period from 1912 to 1919 that the Institute faced a time of uncertainty.
The Dairy, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Farm were developed. Diploma in Farm Machinery and Dairying were started in 1923, then a Degree in Agriculture in 1932, followed by a Degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1943.
This became the pioneer Institute to offer Agricultural Engineering degree in the whole of Asia and the 4th in the whole world. Prof. Mason Vaugh, an Agricultural Engineer, founded the Department of Agricultural Engineering, he became the father of Agriculture Engineering in India in the early forties.
Several implements such as Mould Board Ploughs (Wah Wah Plough, U.R No.1, U.P. No.2, Shabash Plough) hoes, cultivators and wheat thresher were, for the first time introduced in India, by Prof. Vaugh. The next phase of the Institute was taken up by Dr. A.T. Mosher, in the year 1948-49, and the major expansion such as the construction of the College of Agriculture, New Hostel and many residences took place during this period.
The most famous agriculture Extension Project “Jamuna Par Punar yojna”, in which the “Gaon Saathi”, (recruitment of village level workers) was introduced into the extension system for the first time in India. The first planners of our country took the idea of the ‘Village Level Worker’ as a community development model.
This has now been adopted by eleven countries of the world. In October 1947 the Institute was brought under an independent Board of Directors, which was sponsored as an ecumenical body by a number of Churches and Christian Missions called The Board of Directors.
On the 25th of Aug. 1950, the A.A.I, was registered to function as a Christian Educational Institute of a national stature. Dr. J.B. Chitamber, a famous extension scientist, took over the reigns of the Institute. Major academic expansion took place during this period i.e. from 1950 till 1980. Dr. Chitamber who had worked very closely with Dr. A. T. Mosher, led the Institute successfully and made extension a very well-known programme of the Institute.
From the year 1980 to 1995 the Institute faced financial and administrative crisis the worst in its history and suffered the severest bankruptcy, due to which land had to be sold for disbursement of salaries, as employees were not paid for nearly 10 to 12 months.
All fixed deposits dried out. However, through the prayer of believers and by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the people started realizing the vision of the founders, the spirit of the Lord once again started working in the Institute and by the end of the year 1996 the Institute survived and came out of this crisis.
In order to obtain more academic freedom and to strengthen the specialized programmes of Teaching, Research and Extension a proposal was submitted to the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt., of India by the Director, Dr. Rajendra B. Lai on 31 August 1994, that the Institute be granted the status of a Deemed University.
In 1997 a team of experts from ICAR and UGC visited the Institute and gave their recommendation that the Institute be declared as a Deemed University, as it had all the potentials of a University. On 15 March 2000, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Hon’ble Minister of HRD, Govt., of India, gave his approval to the recommendations of the UGC.
The Central Government issued the notification No. F-9-26/94-U.3. dated the 15th of March 2000, declaring the Allahabad Agricultural Institute-as Deemed University and Prof. (Dr.) Rajendra B. Lai, was appointed as the first Vice- Chancellorof the University.
After the end of Five years, AAI- DU was evaluated by NAAC (An autonomous body of UGC) in the month of January, 2005. The NAAC accredited the university with B++ grade (80-85%). This is an excellent grade between 80-85%.
Allahabad is situated at the eastern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is very well connected by Air, Rail and Road from New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Gauhati, Chennai and Kolkata. 8 Km. from Allahabad Junction Railway Station across the Jamuna Bridge on the Rewa Road. By bus, the bus stands are located at Zero Road and Civil Lines. The distance of Varanasi and Lucknow from Allahabad is 120 & 225 K M. respectively.
Agricultural University #
4. Anand Agricultural University (AAU):
Anand Agricultural University (AAU) is located in the western Indian state of Gujarat between the cities of Vadodara and Ahmedabad. This was formerly the Anand Campus of Gujarat Agricultural University, which is now independent. It has three constituent colleges, for agriculture, veterinary science and animal husbandry and dairy science.
The jurisdiction of the university covers Kheda, Anand, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Dahod and Panchmahal districts. It was set up to provide education support to the farming community in areas such as Agriculture, Horticulture, Engineering, Information technology and Business Studies. The university aims to promote development in rural areas through education, research and support services.
Anand Agricultural University was previously a part of Gujarat Agricultural University, a benchmark project initiated by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. K.M. Munshi by incorporating Krushi-Go-Vidhya Bhavan or the Institute of Agriculture, in 1938. The Institute was popularly known as Khetiwadi, it became part of Gujarat Agricultural University in 1972.
The B. A College of Agriculture, established in 1947, was affiliated to Bombay University until 1956, then with Gujarat University until 1962 and is now linked with Sardar Patel University along with the Sheth M.C College of Dairy Science. In 1972 they became integral institutions of Gujarat Agricultural University along with the Government College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand, which was established in 1964. The College of Agricultural Information Technology was formed in 2009.
The activities of the Anand zone of the erstwhile Gujarat Agricultural University have been transferred to the newly established Anand Agricultural University with effect from 2004 with three colleges – B.A College of Agriculture, the Sheth M.C College of Dairy Sciences, the Government College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand, 17 Research Stations, 1 Extension Education Institute and 22 Extension Education Centers.
Agricultural University #
5. Assam Agricultural University:
Assam Agricultural University (AAU) was established in 1969 under the Assam Agricultural University Act 1968 January 2,1969. The jurisdiction of the University extends to the entire State of Assam with regard to teaching, research and extension education in the field of agriculture and allied sciences. The University has a number of campuses with its head quarter located at Borbheta at a distance of about 5 km from both bus station and railway station and 2 km from airport of the Jorhat. The city can be reached easily from Guwahati, the capital of Assam, by Air/Road/Rail. The latitude, longitude and altitude of Jorhat are 26°44’N, 94°10’E and 91 m. above mean sea level respectively.
The objectives of the University are:
i. To make provision for imparting education to the people in agriculture and other allied branches of learning
ii. To further the advancement of learning and research in agriculture and other allied sciences
iii. To undertake the extension of such sciences especially to the rural people of the state.
Assam Agricultural University (AAU) is the only educational centre in the world to offer a comprehensive four- year degree program in Agriculture with specialization in Tea Husbandry and Technology (THT), which covers the entire gamut of tea cultivation, production and marketing. The Faculty of Agriculture offers B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree programs. The Faculty of Home Science offers B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree programs in all departments and a Ph.D. degree program in Food and Nutrition only.
Agricultural University #
6. Bidhan Chandra Krishivish Wavidyalaya:
Bidhan Chandra Agricultural University is an agricultural university in West Bengal, India. The university aims to provide higher education in technical fields of Agriculture, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering, and thus provides modern and high value education to create scientists of tomorrow with the capability to work at national and international levels.
a. Faculty of Agriculture:
Under this faculty there are 17 departments, viz.,
i. Deptt. of Agronomy,
ii. Deptt. of Soil Science & Chemistry,
iii. Deptt. of Agricultural Entomology,
iv. Deptt. of Agricultural Chemicals,
v. Deptt. of Biotechnology, Instrumentation & Environmental Science,
vi. Deptt. of Soil & Water Conservation,
vii. Deptt. of Plant Pathology,
viii. Deptt. of Meteorology & Physics,
ix. Deptt. of Agricultural Extension,
x. Deptt. of Agricultural Statistics,
xi. Deptt. of Agricultural Economics,
xii. Deptt. of Genetics,
xiii. Deptt. of Plant Physiology,
xiv. Deptt. of Plant Breeding,
xv. Deptt. of Animal Science,
xvi. Deptt. of Agricultural Biochemistry,
xvii. Deptt. of Seed Science & Technology.
b. Faculty of Horticulture:
Under this faculty there are 5 departments, viz.,
i. Department of Fruits & Orchard Management,
ii. Department of Vegetable Crops,
iii. Department of Floriculture & Landscaping,
iv. Department of Post – Harvest Technology,
v. Department of Spices & Plantation Crops
c. Faculty of Agriculture Engineering:
Under this faculty there are 4 departments, viz.,
i. Department of Soil & Water Engineering,
ii. Department of Food Engineering,
iii. Department of Post-Harvest Engineering,
iv. Department of Machinery & Power
The Directorate of Research at Kalyani is the coordinating-monitoring headquarters of the research stations, substations, units, sub-units and projects spread over the jurisdiction of the Viswavidyalaya. A substantial number of research Projects under various programmes and funding modes operate on farmers’ fields (on-farm trials, FLD trials) at representative locations of three major agro-climatic regions of the Stale and also at other zones across West Bengal.
Several experiments arc conducted in a scientist- farmer participatory manner. Highlights of the ongoing research activities and their achievements during the period under reference are depicted below
Directorate of Extension Education:
The Directorate of Extension Education, in the Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, was created only in 1994 through upgradation of the “Field Extension Wing”, which took care of mainly the farm advisory services among a few villages, surrounding the headquarter campus of the Viswavidyalaya.
The upgradation attempt, though initiated quite late, was made in line with the mandate of the SAUs to organize ‘first line extension” activities to complement their research, and educational role, as well as to strengthen the efforts of the state extension machinery towards transferring proven and tested technological options for increased production and productivity.
However, the manpower, as well as the infrastructural conditions, corresponding to the enlargement of the mandated roles and responsibilities assumed by the Directorate, consequent to its upgradation, continued to remain inadequate.
Agricultural University #
7. Birsaagricultural University:
Birsa Agricultural University is an agricultural university at Kanke, Ranchi in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Established on 26 June 1981, after its formal inauguration by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi.
Its primary objective is developing area specific technologies and manpower in the field of agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry for the agricultural development of the plateau region of Bihar and economic upliftment of tribal and other backward class population of the region. The programmes and activities of education, research and extension are carried out through various faculties.
i. Faculty of Agriculture.
ii. Faculty of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry.
iii. Faculty of Forestry.
iv. College of Bio-Technology.
Agricultural University #
8. Central Agricultural University:
Central Agricultural University is an agricultural university at Iroisemba near Imphal in the Indian state of Manipur. The Central Agricultural University has been established by an act of Parliament, the Central Agricultural University Act 1992 (No.40 of 1992). The Act came into effect on 26 January, 1993 with the issue of necessary notification by the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Govt., of India.
The University became functional with the joining of first Vice-Chancellor on 13 September, 1993. The jurisdiction of the University extends to six North-Eastern Hill States viz., Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura, with headquarters at Imphal in Manipur.
It offers undergraduate teaching (B.V.Sc. &A.H.) & postgraduate teaching (M.V.Sc.), research & extension activities at College of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry, Selesih, Aizawl, Mizoram; which is also going to organise “North-East Agri Fair” in the month of February, 2008.
It also offers B.Sc. (Agril) every year & M.Sc. (Agril) in Agronomy, Plant Pathology, Horticulture, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, and Entomology.lt also imparts teaching in the field of horticulture, fisheries,agricultural engineering in different colleges spanning different north-eastern states.Dr. S.N.Puri is presently the Hon’ble vice-chancellor of CAU.
Agricultural University #
9. Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology:
Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture & Technology is an agricultural university at Kanpur in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is named after the famous Indian revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad. There are three faculties in the university – Faculties of Agriculture and Home Science at Kanpur, and the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering & Technology at Etawah. The university caters to the needs of the farming community of 28 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
A small school was started in 1893 at Kanpur to provide training to revenue officers. It gradually grew to the status of a Government Agricultural College (1906), the U.P. Institute of Agricultural Sciences (1969) and a full-fledged university in 1975. U.P. College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Mathura was merged with the university at that time.
An incident in late 2008 revealed the extent of politicization in university administration. The politician Rahul Gandhi was prevented from using the college auditorium to address students, and met them in the canteen instead; the move was attributed to the Chief Minister Mayawati.
Subsequently, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, V.K. Suri, was ousted by the governor, T.V. Rajeswar, a Gandhi family appointee the incident was cited in the media as evidence of the politicization of education, and a cartoon in the Times of India by Ajit Ninan went: “Dynasty related questions are answered by Rahulji’s foot soldiers.”
Agricultural University #
10. Chaudharycharan Singh Haryana Agricultural University:
Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University popularly known as HAU, is one of Asia’s biggest agricultural universities, located at Hisar in the Indian state of Haryana. It is named after India’s seventh Prime Minister, Choudhary Charan Singh. It is a leader in agricultural research in India and contributed significantly to Green Revolution and White Revolution in India in the 1960s and 1970s. It has a very large campus and has several research centres throughout the state. It won the Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Award for the Best Institute in 1997.
HAU was initially a campus of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. After the formation of Haryana in 1966, it became an autonomous institution on February 2, 1970 through a Presidential Ordinance, later ratified as Haryana and Punjab Agricultural Universities Act, 1970, passed by the Lok Sabha on March 29,1970. Sh A.L. Fletcher, the first Vice-Chancellor of the university, was instrumental in its initial growth.
HAU has a sprawling campus that is scenic and is visited by local people for morning and evening walks. There is a central campus core formed by Fletcher Bhawan, Gandhi Bhawan, Nehru Library and Indira Gandhi Auditorium, around which the other buildings and facilities are built. The university has a total land of 29.15 km2 (12.91 km2 at the main campus at Hisar, 10.68 km2 Seed Production Farm at hisar, and 5.56 km2 at outstations).
Agricultural University #
11. Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth:
Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth is an agricultural university at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It was established on May 18,1972 as Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, and got its present name on February 12,2001. Its research centre at Karjat has developed some patented varieties of rice. Its major focus areas are rice, horticulture and fisheries. In 1997, it received the Best Institute Award of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
The university carries out extensive research related to rice, fruits, horticulture, fisheries and agricultural technology. It has 15 off-campus research stations throughout the Konkan region. There are two Krishi Vigyan Kendras (Agricultural Science Centres) at Shirgaon (Ratnagiri) and Karjat (Raigad) providing education and training to local farmers.
Agricultural University #
12. Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth:
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV or PKV) at Akola, in Maharashtra, India is a well-known agricultural university in the Vidarbha region. The University is entrusted with the responsibility of agricultural education, research and extension education along with breeder and foundation seed programme.
Its jurisdiction includes all eleven districts of Vidarbha namely Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Washim and Yavatmal. The Central Campus is at Akola while the another major campus is at Nagpur.
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola was established on 20th October, 1969 with its head-quarter at Akola. This Agricultural University was named after the illustrious son of Vidarbha Dr. Panjabrao (alias Bhausaheb) Deshmukh, who was the Minister for Agriculture, Govt, of India.
The jurisdiction of this university is spread over the eleven districts of Vidarbha. According to the University Act 1983 (of the Government of Maharashtra), the University is entrusted with the responsibility of agricultural education, research and extension education along with breeder and foundation seed programme.
The University has its main campus at Akola. The instructional programmes at main campus are spread over in 5 Colleges namely, College of Agriculture, College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, College of Forestry, College of Horticulture and Post Graduate Institute.
At this campus 4 degree programmes namely B.Sc. (Agri.) B.Sc. (Hort.), B.Sc. (Forestry) and B.Tech. (Ag. Engg.), two Master’s Degree Programmes viz. M.Sc.(Agri.) and M.Tech. (Agri.Engg.) and Doctoral Degree Programmes in the faculties of Agriculture and Agril. Engineering are offered.
The University has its sub-campus at Nagpur with constituent College, College of Agriculture which offers B.Sc. (Agri.) and M.Sc.(Agri.) degree programmes. The Nagpur Campus is accomplished with a garden, surrounded by its natural beauty and a well-established Zoo which attract the general public and visitors to the city. A separate botanic Garden is being maintained on 22 hectares with a greenhouse for the benefit of research workers.
In addition there are 2 affiliated grant-in-aid colleges and 14 private non-grant-in-aid colleges under the umbrella of this University.
A Central Research Station is situated at the main Campus which caters to the need of research projects undertaken by Crop Scientists of the principle crops of the region are Cotton, Sorghum, Oilseeds and Pulses.
This region has been divided into four Zones on the basis of precipitation, number of rainy days, soil group, physiology and cropping system.
The zone receiving 700-950 mm. precipitation with less than 52 rain days having vertisols of varying depth has been identified as the Assured Kharif Crop Zone consisting of the districts namely, Buldana, Akola, Amravati and a part of Washim district while the districts Yavatmal and Wardha and a part of Nagpur are characterised by its precipitation in the range of 950-1250 mm., 52-62 rainy days having vertisol soils constituted the Moderate Rainfall Zone.
The districts, namely, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli have been categorised as the High Rainfall (1250-1700 mm.) Zone. While hilly tracks of Amravati district receiving rainfall in the range of 950-1700 mm. have been categorised as Moderate to High Rainfall Zone.
The Vidarbha region is endowed with rich forests. The region has an area of 27.5 lakh hectares under forest which accounts for 52 per cent of the total forest area of the State and 28per cent of the geographical area of the Vidarbha region.
Agriculture in Vidarbha is characterised by dryland farming with 90 per cent of the cultivated area dependent on monsoon. Foodgrains account for about 54 per cent of the gross cropped area. Cotton and Soybean are major cash crops of the region having about 28 per cent and 7 per cent area respectively.
Agricultural University #
13. Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya:
Located in the heart of India, named after the architect of modern India, Let. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the biggest multi- campus University, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKW) was inaugurated by the then Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Smt. Indira Gandhi on October 2,1964.
At present, JNKW encompasses seven Agriculture, two Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry and one Agricultural Engineering Colleges; nine Zonal Research Stations; 16 Regional Research Stations and 18 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) in 9 agro-climatic zones spread over 45 districts.
The University occupies an area of about 1966 ha out of which 1250 ha is utilized for agricultural research & seed Production. The overall climate varies from semi-arid to sub-humid with hot summer, cool and dry winter and 600- 1600mm mean rainfall.
The area under the University jurisdiction contains seven soil types, varying from heavy black to light alluvial. The soils are deficient in available nitrogen, phosphorus, Zn and sulphur but medium to high in potash.
To conduct Education, Research and Extension activities for enhancing productivity, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production systems and quality of rural livelihood in the state Madhya Pradesh.
i. To serve as a centre of teaching and research in the field of agriculture and allied Science.
ii. To disseminate technology to farmers, extension personnel and organizations engaged in agricultural development through various extension programmes.
The University was established on the recommendations of University Education Commission in 1949 and two joint Indo-American Teams on Agricultural Research and Education in 1954-55 and 1959-60, on the pattern of Land Grant Colleges of the United States of America by transferring the existing six Government Colleges of Agriculture, and two Colleges of Veterinary Sciences & Animal Husbandry under an act of Madhya Pradesh legislature passed in 1963.
Vice Chancellor is the Chief Executive of the University. He is supported by Director of Instruction, Director of Research Services and Director of Extension Services. Whereas Faculties of Agriculture, Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry and Agricultural Engineering are headed by respective Faculty Deans, supported by Deans of constituent Colleges and Heads of Departments. Registrar and Comptroller support the Vice Chancellor in administration and financial matters.
Board of Management, Academic Council, Administrative Council, Extension Education Council, Research Council and Council for Post Graduate Studies are the highest bodies for making necessary decisions. Over four decades JNKW has created a base for scientific research and education in a wide spectrum of areas. The university has emerged as a leading research organization having a major stake in the agricultural development of the state.